Frustration

 

Who knew the look of frustration could look so good? Tuesday, I was absolutely frustrated with my Doll Quilt. I had some nice compliments on what I was working on, but I was not happy with it. I kept changing my mind all weekend about what I wanted which is part of the reason I worked on my Love Is instead. Tuesday night, I decided I had enough, and started something completely different. I went to my first love, the Dresden Plate. Once I had it sewn together, I put it on my turquoise Kona cotton and an AHA moment happened. I was reminded of a school trip I had taken this year to an art museum with my daughter. One of the things that was talked about was positive versus negative space. The children got to paint 2 pictures using this technique. I started thinking about using the turquoise as the background, and everything fell into place, I hope. I started working again on my Doll Quilt this morning, and I am thrilled so far. The Dresden Plate, I have set aside and will use it for something else.

Design Wall Monday - Love Is

I have so many quilting projects due within the next week, one of them being my March UFO. I have made much progress on my UFOs, but have not finished one, so I wanted to get as much of it done as I possibly could. My original thought had been to use the pinks and reds of the Aster Manor honeybun I was using, but I am glad I decided to add in the rest of the colours. I now have a clean basement, and a clean quilting room, but still have not found the missing 4 blocks. I will get to work on those, and be happy when all of it is put together. Check out what others have done for Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

Storm the Castle

 


Last week, I unexpectedly, or perhaps I should say expectedly spent  a lot of time working on a quilt with my nephew over his March Break. It was fun to explain quilting lingo, techniques and to show him fabric as well as pick out a pattern. We decided on a pattern from Crazy Mom Quilts called Fair and Square, which was a good beginner one for him to start with. He sewed the green pieces to each of the blocks and then I sewed the rows together. I changed up the pattern due to the amount of background green fabric I had. I got it finished into a top on Sunday morning half an hour before he had to leave. He is anxious for it to become a quilt. He was also quite impressed that I have my own "website." I had posted some progress photos last week and he wanted to know all of the comments.  I am linking to Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF.

Fraternal Twins

A while ago, Carly of Citric Sugar had asked for some blocks for a teacher-identity-quilt-project she is working on. They could be leftover blocks, or you could create something new. One of the suggestions for a block is one that you knew do very well. Since I had just finished my Christmas Rose blocks I thought it would be neat to try it in a different colour way. Pink and orange is not a combination I have used much before so I thought I would give them a try.


 





I sort of feel like these are before and after photos like you would see in magazines.

Design Wall Monday

I had a busy week last week. I worked on a quilt with my nephew and spent a lot of time coming up with ideas for my Doll Quilt Swap. Here is what I have at the moment.

I used EQ6 to put this together. I really liked the idea of using the Log Cabins as a border. The Log Cabin is my favourite traditional block, and not so traditional. Check out what others have on their walls at Patchwork Times.

On a side note, Barb is the winner of my giveaway.

DQS12

A while ago, I joined up to something that I have heard much about and seen beautiful swaps. I joined the Doll Quilt Swap 12. I have not talked about it yet, because I have been learning the ins and outs about it. It is a huge swap and very well organized. For this round of the swap, our quilt has to include one of five blocks :

1.churn dash/shoofly
2.log cabin
3.drunkards path
4. N.Y. beauty
5.flying geese

As well, if we use a background fabric, it cannot be white or any variation of white. Our secret partner also has put in some requests of what she/he likes.  I have had many ideas based on these parameters. I have spent some time in EQ6 working things out. Here is what I have so far.

My very first New York Beauty. I found a tutorial about this, as well as a New York Beauty Quilt Along at My Go-Go Life.


I am linking to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network.

Don't forget to enter my 3rd Blogiversary giveaway!

Happy 3rd Blogiversary to Me!

Today is my 3rd Blogiversary! It has been a whirlwind 3 years. I have had so much fun and learned so much. It has been exciting for me to meet some of my blogging friends in real life.  I have done swaps, quilting bees, learned to knit socks and redwork and ventured into quilted household items. I have been happy, sad, frustrated, glad and most of all inspired by all of you. I am too scared right now to go on Pinterest, for I know I will find so many things I will want to make. I am learning to appreciate my voice, and the things that make me "me".

Since this should not be all about me, I am having a giveaway. I spent most of Sunday sorting my fabric and scraps. I now have a new appreciation on how quickly scraps can grow. Yesterday I started cutting and sewing a quilt with my nephew using Castle Peeps. I have some scraps left over from my cutting and I would love to give them away to one of you. All you need to do is tell me about a project you are working on right now. I need to be able to contact you, so if you are a no-reply blogger, please leave me your email in the comment. The giveaway will be open until 12:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Savings Time, and the winner will be chosen randomly. Thank you for being on this journey with me.

Design Wall Monday - Nephew Style

My nephew is here for the week for his March Break. We are making a quilt together. We decided on the Fair and Square Pattern by AmandaJean of Crazy Mom Quilts. Here is what we have done so far.

I have to say he has a fabulous 1/4 " inch seam. Much better than mine when I started. Check out other Design Walls at Patchwork Times.

March UFO Challenge

 

Let's see, how am I doing so far on the UFO Challenges 0-2. That actually is okay with me. I knew the first six months of the year would be busy with other quilting projects, including my guild show and possibly teaching. I also got hooked on knitting socks so some of my time has been devoted to that. I have spent a good portion of each month so far working on those UFO, and seeing much progress has made me happy.

Now we come to the UFO for March -#8, Love Is. For this I have a huge confession to make, one I was hoping not to have to, but the time has come. I have lost the first four blocks. I have no idea where they have gone to, and I have searched and searched. Though my quilting room can become scattered at times, I do keep my projects all together and everything is well organized except for my scraps. My quilting walls are in the basement, and my sewing room is upstairs and somewhere in between the blocks have disappeared. This is the only reason that this project is still a UFO, because I kept hoping I would find them. The dazzling, amazing Darlene of Quilting Daze got me started on redwork, and it was she who helped me a great deal with this project. I think I will take one more look around and if not, I will make the blocks again. I find redwork to be very calming and soothing. That feels so good to get that off of my chest.  Check out what others were able to accomplish at Patchwork Times.